To address the complex issue of how to keep guns out of the hands of individuals with mental health issues, a Democrat sponsored measure that creates a task force to study gun restrictions on the mentally ill was unveiled Friday.

Rep. Beth McCann, D-Denver

Sponsored by Rep. Beth McCann, D-Denver, the bill is different from the legislation she floated, but eventually scrapped, last week that would have granted mental health providers the authority to limit the ability of a person to purchase a gun.

The measure filed Friday would call for the formation of a task force to “advise the general assembly regarding issues surrounding the loss, maintenance, and restoration of the right to purchase and possess firearms by persons who, as a result of mental health issues, alcohol abuse, or substance abuse, are clearly dangerous to the health and safety of themselves or others.”

If passed, the task force would be required to meet before July 20, 2013 — the one year anniversary of the Aurora theater shooting where 12 people were killed and 58 others were injured. The alleged gunman, James Holmes, had been seeing a psychiatrist prior to the shooting.

Moreover, the task force would be required to meet at least five times and report their findings and recommendations to state lawmakers no later than January 2015.

Democrats, who control both chambers and the governor’s office, have already passed stricter gun laws that limit ammunition magazines and require universal gun background checks in Colorado. Both bills were signed into law last month by Gov. John Hickenlooper.

All House and Senate Republicans voted in opposition to these measures.

And do what?!?!?! Just what we need is ANOTHER TASK FORCE!!!!!!!!!! STOP ALREADY!!!!!

Dean Schulze

Why didn’t the Democrats address the issue of keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill when they were ramming their three gun control bills through the legislature?

The mental health industry is a ward of the Democratic party. It would hurt their business if they had to report their dangerous patients to authorities who would subsequently take action against these patients. You can bet they had something to do with keeping measures like this out of these three bills.

Mitchell

What a retard. All this will do is prevent people from getting treatment. Even if you don’t like guns and have no intentions of owning one, your name will on the government **** list if you see a therapist.

Mitchell

What a retard. All this will do is prevent people from seeking treatment. Even if you don’t like guns and have no intentions of buying one, your name will be on the FBI’s/government **** list if you see a therapist.

Doug

They’ve figured out how to keep honest people honest, now they’ll try to figure out how to keep guns out of the mentally ill population, then ALL they need to do is figure out how to keep them from criminals. How simple.
MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.